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Congratulations and celebrations
AUG 18 -
Perhaps for the first time in the annals of Nepali literature, a diamond jubilee celebration is being observed. Nepali Shikshya Parishad was conceived immediately after the downfall of Ranarchy in 1951. The trailblazer was the late Gopal Pandey Aseem. In Sanskrit, “aseem” stands for boundlessness, meaning no limitation at all.
Nepali Shikshya Parishad rose from a zero base. It was dedicated to the mission of raising the Nepali language to new heights through multiple activities. The stated goals were twofold—propagation of the lingua franca and promotion of Nepali literature throughout the length and breadth of Nepal.
To achieve the stated goals, the Parishad constituted a committee under the chairpersonship of the late Tirtha Prasad Dhungana, then principal of Padma Kanya Campus. Dhungana was regarded as a model guru having been a worthy facilitator to many scholars including pre-eminent drama laureate the late Bala Krishna Sama.
Propagation of the lingua franca and promotion of Nepali literature is not an easy task. It demands manifold strategic plans and constant activity. In light of this fact, the Parishad started Nepali Prabesika Shikshya, an education programme with legal status secured from the then His Majesty’s Government with the rationale of making education in the Nepali language equivalent to the SLC examination, an English-based education. The reasoning was that ideas and knowledge along with skills could, by all means, be gained and acquired through Nepali language-based education. Nepali Prabesika Shikshya made a decade-long march from Kathmandu to Pokhara to Palpa and a few other districts. Actively engaged in the task, it was a fun learning experience for me.
The approaches made so far to propagate Nepali literature have been meticulously designed. The first step was to celebrate the live Ratha Yatra of poet laureate Lekhnath Poudel in 1954 followed by a joint anniversary celebration of literary personalities starting from the pioneer poet Adikabi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, followed by Moti Ram Bhatta, a Kathmanduite and trailblazer of Nepali literature in the 19th century. The commemorative anniversary celebrations would take place at some interval at Durbar High School (Bhanu Bhakta Memorial High School) or Saraswati Sadan within the Tri-Chandra College complex. Popularly dignified poets, dramatists and critiques would participate in such events. No snacks or beverages would be served on these days. Instead cusses, coconuts and dates were served. And it was fun to move from one to the next stall holding a big plate in the hand. One of the strategies towards getting the younger generation interested in Nepali literature was through literary competitions. Such competitive programmes were held at different places at certain time intervals. The trend continues to this day. Certain problem solving titles are assigned to willing participants through the mass media with a certain timeframe for submission of their works.
Besides, some big efforts have also been made in recognition of seniors and contemporary litterateurs. The Bhanu Award (Bhanu Puraskar) with a cash prize of Rs. 101,101 has been awarded every year since 2001. Rastra Kabi Madhav Prasad Ghimire was the inaugural winner of the award. Novelist Rajeswor Devkota received the award last year for his outstanding contribution to prose writing. As of now, 16 persons have received the award. The second award is the Aseem Puraskar worth Rs. 25,000 in commemoration of the late Gopal Pandey Aseem, the founding father of Nepal Shikshya Parishad, and 18 persons have received it so far.
Nepali Shikshya Parishad also awards outstanding students securing the highest marks in Nepali. The award includes Rs. 5.000 as an incentive. Bhanu Memorial High School is the award venue because the founding father of Shikshya Parishad spent his entire life in that school in the capacity of an established Nepali language and literature teacher. Among other achievements, the Parishad has erected statues of Adikabi Bhanu Bhakta at Bhanu Memorial High School, Rani Pokhari, Moti Ram Bhatta’s statue at Dharan, Kabi Shiromani Lekhnath Poudel’s statue at Lekh Nath Sahitya Sadan, Bala Krishna Sama’s statue at Kamal Pokhari and Mahakabi Laxmi Prasad Devkota’s statue at the Consulate General’s office complex in Lhasa, Tibet.
During the 60 years of Nepali Shikshya Parishad’s existence, it has witnessed the building of three monumental structures—Lekhnath Sahitya Sadan in Kathmandu, Bhanu Smriti Sadan at Ramghat (the birthplace of the Adikabi) and Moti Smriti Sadan in Dharan in eastern Nepal. The Parishad has put out some 20 literary publications. The Rastra Bhasa—an annual publication of the Parishad—has remained the ornament of Nepali literary publication.
Nepali Shikshya Parishad, under the leadership of Rama Sharma (daughter of the late Aseem), is progressing towards greater heights. The diamond jubilee of the Parishad should be celebrated for the sake of the Nepali lingua franca, Nepali literature and the common good and prosperity of all Nepalis.
(The author is a visiting faculty at Kathmandu University)
Posted on: 2010-08-19 08:38
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